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Retail raid results in arrests, confiscated items
Thousands of dollars worth of stolen items were seized during a raid by LAPD.
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department raided several businesses in the Westlake area Wednesday believed to be linked to a retail theft operation.
Officers with Rampart Division seized approximately $100,000 to $200,000 worth of stolen items. Video from the scene showed officers load a semi-truck full of diapers, computers, energy drinks, soft drinks, a gun and much more.
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Stolen items recovered during LAPD raid
Nearly half a million dollars worth of stolen items were seized from businesses in the Westlake area during an LAPD retail theft raid.
At least three people were arrested, LAPD Captain Jay Roberts said.
"This is the stuff you see stolen everyday, shoplifting from your retailers. Rampart is focused on the shoplifters in the retail locations, we focused on the fencing at illegal street vending spots and now we are focusing on brick-and-mortar stores that are actually set up to look like a real legitimate store but it's full of stolen merchandise," Roberts told FOX 11.
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LAPD retail theft bust
The Los Angeles Police Department served a warrant at a business in Westlake that may be connected to a retail theft operation.
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The raid is part of a crackdown on brick-and-mortar stores that sell stolen goods.
According to Sheriff Robert Luna, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Burglary-Robbery Task Force has made 254 arrests, served 142 search warrants, and recovered nearly $600,000 in stolen merchandise within the last three months of the task force being created.
The sheriff's department received a $15.6 million grant from the state to fight organized retail theft.
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LASD staffing reaches crisis level
LASD's Robert Luna speaks on the issue.
"All of our partners in the region are doing a great job of responding to this, investigating this and making arrests, doing search warrants," Sheriff Luna said.
According to a report from the National Retail Federation, Los Angeles ranked No. 1 among the top U.S. cities impacted by organized retail crime.
The study also revealed the most frequently targeted items as accessories, clothing, electronics, food and beverage, and footwear to round out the top five.
Not only is there more retail theft crimes being committed, but the people committing these crimes are becoming more violent too, the study found.